Patriarch of the Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch condemns
the attacks on the Aramean Christians of Mosul.

Dutch Version

On 2nd of March 2010, the Patriarch of the
Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch, Ignatius
Zakka I, Iwas, condemned in a letter,
sent to several governments and international organizations, the situation
of the Aramean Christians in Mosul.

We welcome the letter of His Eminence
and share his concerns on the situation of our nation in Iraq. However,
below we will also drop some critical remarks.

His Eminence starts his letter saying “With
extreme pain and sorrow we are watching the unfolding events in Iraq……..”.

It is indeed a satanic plan which is being carried out in
Mosul by the forces of abyss. However, perhaps it would have been much
better if his Eminence together with the Patriarchs of other Aramean
denominations had issued a statement on this matter. It would have been much
better to speak out with one voice and one stance!

… But unfortunately these criminals
commit their aggression in the name of religion, which Islam itself
rejects…..

This is very strange! If Islam indeed rejects this kind
of crimes, why did not the highest Islamic leader who resides in Cairo (the
Islamic leader of Ummah) speak a fatwa against this killings and ethnic cleansing? If Islam rejects
this kind of evilness, why did not the king of Saudi Arabia for example
condemn it? If Islam rejects this evil acts, how about a clear condemnation
by the Islamic conference? If Islam rejects this evilness, how many Islamic
leaders came forward and condemned it?

When Mr. Bush and Mr. Blair decided to attack Iraq, a
overwhelming condemnation and rejection was spoken out by the de majority of
the Christians and non-Christians in the Western world. And to underscore this condemnation,
mass demonstrations were organized in many Western countries. How many
demonstrations were organized in the Islamic countries to condemn what is
happening now in Iraq? Well, many people in the West made abundantly clear
that Mr. Bush and Mr. Blair were definitely not acting on their behalf! How
many Islamic organizations came forward to condemn these satanic deeds
against our nation if Islam indeed rejects these atrocities? Very .... very strange indeed!!!!

…… We support all Arabic governments
in all our countries. We did not see or feel any
persecution or discrimination factional or religious or political
because Christians, by nature, are loyal and faithful to their countries
wherever they are, and specially to their home land….

“We support all Arabic
governments?” What is the relation between supporting the Arabic
governments and terror against our nation in Iraq? This is very strange
isn’t it?

How about the bloodthirsty treatment of the
Coptic people in Egypt? How about killing, raping and abducting their girls
and women? How about terrorizing the Coptic nation? How can one approve this
evilness which is directly being carried out by the forces of abyss?

How about the horrendous acts in Darfour? Nothing to say
about that? If there is no persecution and cultural extermination in the
so-called “Arab” countries how is it possible that many Arameans have been “Arabised”?
How do you explain that even the Aramean flag is being considered as
political activity? And how do you explain that even mentioning the word “Aramean”;
you immediately will be labeled as political heretic? All this is okay and
“…did not see or feel any persecution or
discrimination.” ? How about the oppression of the Aramean
culture? Just to accept it? Millions of those who call themselves “Arabs”
are in reality Islamic Arameans and they have nothing to do with the Arabs,
totally nothing, they all are just Arameans. The only problem is, they do
not speak out. And that is very sad.

Or perhaps should we say this "...... we should be
happy not to be killed, accept just your second class citizen status...."?
Is this what they understand as "Human Rights" and "tolerance" according the
Islam.... not to be killed by them? And is this what they call "Islam is
mercy?" You just accept your second class citizen status and this is what
they call "Human Rights" in the Islamic world?

Of course this sentence clearly contradicts the reality!
It is meant to please the government of Syria and has nothing to do with the
real Human Rights situation; which is just terrible! Not only in Syria but
in other Islamic countries as well, the spiritual leaders are oppressed to
deny any persecution and cultural extermination! This is well-known method
which the governments apply to polish their face and hide the reality!
It is just ridiculous!

Not only the clergy, but also some organisations who are
happy to photograph themselves with the members of the government in such
countries, where grave Human Rights violations being committed, and
subsequently come back and show their photo’s on television to fool and
misguide the blind people and present their "activities" to the people.

…… Is there a conspiracy to evacuate
Iraq from its Christian population, the original inhabitants...? … or are
there plots sponsored by invisible hands which some call: Zionism one day,
and Al-Qaida another day?.......

With extreme pain and sorrow we are
watching the unfolding events in Iraq in general and the persecutions,
killings, kidnapping, ransacking holy places and injustice done to the
Christian population in Iraq in particular, as if Satan has recruited those
evil people to destroy the country and its people. For what reason they
target the Christians who are loyal to their land and are proud of their
beloved Iraqi culture, sacrificing everything even their life, for its glory
and dominion.

We had previously issued
condemnations for these inhuman actions which are far away from religions.
But unfortunately these criminals commit their aggression in the name of
religion, which Islam itself rejects. We know Iraq and its people and the
loving ties between all its citizens from all religions, groups, factions,
and sects.

What is happening in the city of
Mosul in particular is very worrisome. Is there a conspiracy to evacuate
Iraq from its Christian population, the original inhabitants...? or are
there plots sponsored by invisible hands which some call: Zionism one day,
and Al-Qaida another day? Or is there an outlaw group whose aim is to hurt
and obliterate others, resembling the war of annihilation against the
Christians in 1915?

We support all Arabic governments in
all our countries. We did not see or feel any persecution or discrimination
factional or religious or political because Christians, by nature, are loyal
and faithful to their countries wherever they are, and specially to their
home land . . . !

What is happening in Iraq ?

Nothing will convince us that those
defiant rebels, outlaws of every religion or authority or state or law or
humanity, that the government cannot chastise and inflict on them the
punishment they deserve, which causes us to doubt the intensions of the
rulers and people in charge. We call upon them, both individually and
collectively, to act steadfastly and do justice to those oppressed on the
hands of the transgressors as we are unable to watch our innocent children
being slaughtered, murdered, and looted without any deterrent.

What account would those in charge
present in front of God for allowing oppression to their citizens in the day
light?... !

We call upon the presidents of the
Arabic countries in general and the Assembly of the Arabic countries, the
United Nations, and all the rulers of the world to elevate this terrorism
and violations incurred upon the subdued and innocent Christians who cannot
defend themselves although Christians in Syria and Lebanon and most of the
Arab countries live in peace and security.

What makes our heart and soul rest is
when we see initiatives taken by those whom we call upon in our declaration.
We call upon all the decent Iraqis to stand side by side with their
afflicted Christian brothers and martyrs in our beloved Iraq.

Awaiting a positive response, we pray
for concord and progress in Iraq, liberation from injustice and aggression
in our beloved Palestine, peace and tranquility to the Arab world, to
humanity and to the whole world.

Damascus, March 2, 2010

Ignatius Zakka I, Iwas
Patriarch of Antioch and all the East.
Supreme head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church

(Declaration concluded)

Copy sent to the following:

1 – Iraqi government via the Iraqi
embassy in Damascus.

2 – Ministry of Foreign Affaires in
the Syrian Arab Republic.

3 – The United Nations.

4 – The Assembly of Arab countries.

5 – Organizations and diplomatic
delegations in Damascus.

6 – World Council of churches.

7 – Middle Eastern Council of
churches.

8 – Other media and news
organizations and outlets.

The Arameans of Iraq

Before the war of 2003, there were around 800.000
Arameans in Iraq. Probably more than half of them have left the country. The
attacks on their churches and leaders chased the Arameans out of Iraq.

The spiritual/political
colonial Western intervention and machinations in the Middle-East divided
the Arameans in various denominations, namely:

- West- Aramean Syrian Orthodox

- West- Aramean Syrian Catholics

- East- Aramean Nestorian Chaldeans

- East- Aramean Nestorian "Assyrians". The "Assyrians" are divided among
themselves as follows: The Apostolic Assyrian Catholic church of the
East (Since 1976, the name "Catholic" has no relation with Rome) and the
Ancient Church of the East (since 1968).

The terms
“East- “ and “West- Arameans” go back to the time of early Christianity
where the Aramean indigenous nation was geographically termed as such.
Roughly speaking the Euphrates River was the border. Those Arameans living
Eastern of Euphrates, thus living in Persia, were termed “East- Arameans”
and those living Western of Euphrates, thus in Roman Empire, were called
“Western- Arameans”.

In the year 1553 the Western Catholic missionaries
together with France brainwashed a part of the East- Aramean clergy by means
of bribery to call themselves “Chaldeans” with the result that the Aramaic
language became known as “Chaldean” language and a part of the Aramean
nation became known as “Chaldean” nation in some parts of the Western
literature, the first attack on the Aramean heritage.

As a result of mutual hatred and competition between the
Western Catholics and Protestants, in the late 19th century the
same process was repeated, this time by the Anglican missionaries and Great
Britain, and the other part of the East- Aramean “Nestorian” tribes of
Hakkari (bordering Turkey and Iraq) and Urmia (Iran) to call themselves
"Assyrians"- a term which was used purely geographically and only applied to
the "Nestorians". The result was that Aramaic became known as “Assyrian”
language and the Aramean nation as the “Assyrian” nation- this was the
second and more severe attack on the Aramean heritage-
a kind of spiritual genocide.